Was the Cold War about obtaining land or obtaining minds and approval?

Answer 1

The predominant policy consensus of the time was containment of communism. Few actually believed it was feasible to overthrow communism in the USSR or the Warsaw pact countries, although this possibility was always held out before emigre groups, etc. Wars such as Vietnam, Korea, etc. were mainly for the purpose of keeping the communists from coming to power in those countries. Fear of communism was also used as a pretext for suppressing nationalists such as Mossadegh in Iran or Jacobo Arbenz Guzmán in Guatemala, mainly to protect U.S. corporate interests.

So much propaganda and mis- and disinformation was spread in the U.S. about communist goals, capabilities, etc. that it remains difficult today to say just what *they* were about.

Answer 2

During WWII, it became evident to the western powers of England, France, and the US - and probably others - that Russia had designs in mind to build up militarily which would make them a threat to other countries. This became series right after WWII when they cut off access to Berlin, a city that was divided into three sectors, US, England, and Russia, but access required going through Eastern Germany which was under Russian control. That was abated by what is called the Berlin Air Lift which supplied necessary goods to those not living in the Russian Zone.

From that point on, and probably before that, there was a military weapons race among the several nations, including Russia and perceived threats of bombing, missiles, and attacks from Russia. Arms races cost money and eventually Russia ran out of money. As for your concept that it was for obtaining land, that was not an issue. The issue was more like the Cuban Missile Crisis when the Russians put missles close to the US shores. As for obtaining minds and approval, what approval the Russians were looking for were to make friends with countries that perceived the US as not friendly.

Answer 3

The Cold War was the struggle between western economic, social and political philosophies not always democratic, against an alliance lead by Moscow based on authoritarian Marxist-Leninism.
While it is called a "cold war" both west and east confronted each other by proxy in Asia, South-America, and Africa. They fought the wars the west and east avoided.
The US and its allies and the Soviet union divided the world into "spheres of influence."

Answer 4

The Cold War was not about gaining land. It was about containing Communism. Americans believed that Communism was wrong and felt that by spreading throughtout the world would put us in danger. Thus the Cold War began as Russia tried to spread Communism to surrounding nations America reacted by allying themselves to nations and people in the same area that did not want Communism.

Answer 5

The Cold War was about mind control. If it had been about land, it would've become a hot war and lives would have been lost.

Answer 6

personally I believe it was about gaining minds and approval. If it had been about just obtaining land wouldn't there have been more land taken over?